He woke up feeling calm. Oddly relaxed for how he usually is. He jumps down from his bed and walks out down the hall. His hands tucked into his pockets as the air had gotten warmer the closer to Alabasta they got. There was a only a day left now. He leaned against the railing looking off toward the ocean, he could practically smell the desert from this far. He took a deep breath and sighed as he looked down at the water.
He's content like this, just knowing she'd comfort him made him feel comforted. As weird as it sounded that's it felt. He couldn't ask for more from her, and with all that touchy stuff and fluids that happened he honestly wanted to do everything that wasn't that. Not that it felt bad, but he'd rather fall asleep in her arms, then ask for another… what she'd call it? A blowjob? He thought to himself. He shivered just recalling it, but yea, he'd rather pass out tired in her arms and sleep, she was that soft.
Curiously the footsteps that were approaching stepped anxiously?
"Luffy?"
He turned to see Vivi, her blue hair down reaching her rear, her pajamas were baggy and button up lined with dark and light blue stripes, honestly it's what he expected from a princess.
"Do you stay up at the same time every night?"
She asked curiously. He blinked and hummed, turning to lean his back against the railing.
"I suppose… I don't know, it's different every night."
"Why? You looking for something?"
She questioned standing beside him facing toward the open ocean.
"Of course I am, I guess I'm just… waiting."
"Waiting? For what?"
He hesitated, obviously for Nami who hadn't shown up yet, but he couldn't tell her that.
"Have you ever… liked someone?"
She gave him a nonsensical glance.
"Yea…? I like you guys if that's what you mean."
"No like…"
He tried to put his words together.
"Like… love? Have you ever… loved someone that wasn't… family?"
She promptly blushed and chuckles nervously.
"W-Well I mean… it's a phase. I comes and goes and… yea I've… had little crushes on people but nothing serious! I'm only 16!"
"Crushes?"
"Eh? Um… like… when your attracted to someone but… you either barely know them or know they wouldn't see you that way… yknow?"
He didn't know why crush and love were in a similar category but continued.
"Love is weird… it makes me feel things and do things I wouldn't do."
"That's love for ya."
"You called it phase?"
She turned away flustered.
"W-Well… it doesn't… if your not serious about it then… there's a chance it wouldn't last. Flings yknow? People date and act all romantic only for distrust to sprout and…"
She paused and looked back at him.
"Some people just get bored and… others were only in it for the thrill."
"For someone who claims to be inexperienced in this stuff you sure know a lot."
"I read a lot!"
She retorts and sighs.
"Your full of love Luffy, it's just who you share it with that you need to pay attention too."
He knows that, he's been tricked and betrayed a few times cause he chose to trust them. Well it's ironic the one he loves most is the one that betrayed him a few times.
"Yea, love is weird."
"I just don't want you getting hurt."
"Thanks but, I think I know who I can trust and who I can't. I mean I have a pirate hunter, a liar, a thief…"
"You really chose the least trustworthy people Huh?"
She said, not meaning it to sound harsh.
"Well arguably if I did earn their trust, I'd be their one in a million."
"What?"
"It's nothing. Thanks for the advice though, I hadn't thought about it like that."
"I'm not saying don't trust your friends…"
"I know, but to keep an eye out right?"
She sighed and nodded, turning to walk away.
"Goodnight Luffy. And… thanks for helping me."
He waved to her as she left down the hall, leaving him alone on deck again. He tapped his chin as he considered her words, well obviously no one has the best of intentions and will hide that fact. He gives himself a prideful grin.
"I'm so glad I'm smart~"
"In what way?"
He looked back toward the hall seeing the woman he'd been waiting for in a similar robe she had on the day prior.
"Another shower?"
"It's common sense to take a shower once a day, your the weird one, waiting to shower once a week… I know devil fruit eaters hate water but that's absurd."
She said walking up to him, she gives a shallow breath before smiling at him.
"Maybe i gotta give you a shower once a day."
"That'll be hard to do with Alabasta."
"Then remind me, cause if you don't then I'll ask Sanji to do it."
He gulps and whines.
"I'll try."
She hugs him and kisses his cheek, a warm pleasant feeling ran through his veins at that. He hugged her back and after twirling her around kissed her.
"What's with you all the sudden?"
She asks running her fingers through his hair.
"Just missed you."
"You saw me a few hours ago?"
"Yes but I couldn't do this a few hours ago."
He smiled and crouched down before lifting her up like a princess.
"Look at you, sweeping me off my feet. Have any good dreams then?"
He kissed her forehead, nuzzling his nose against her hair as he held her. Vivis words, while a warning, only reminded him of just how lucky he was to love someone who truly loved him back.
"No, but i didn't have any nightmares either."
"Just being romantic then?"
"Can't I hold you?"
"Yea but, your usually not like this. Just wondering what's on your mind."
"I actually just talked to Vivi."
"She's awake?"
"She left just before you came out here."
"Is that right? What did you two talk about?"
He hummed curiously, he didn't specify anything he kinda just asked her about love. He walked over to the mast and sat down with her on his lap.
"She just wanted to thank us for helping her."
"Yea… I think she's really just worried about everything, and… needs to take her mind off it."
"Is she okay?"
"She acts fine, but I think… shes putting it all on herself."
"Is she is, then I'll remind her that we're here. We didn't come all this way to be her ride."
She smiled up at him and pinched his cheek.
"Just look out for her, your better at reading people than I am."
"You could just ask her."
"You know it's not that easy. Just look at me."
He snickered and leaned back against the mast. He yawns and stretches his arms, he looks down at her seeing her look back up at him. Her hand up his chin as her thumb slides over his cheek, feeling over the scar under his eye.
"Sorry I was late."
"It's fine, I'm just happy your here now."
She whined and sat up on his lap to kiss his throat, her lips grazing his neck giving small gentle bites.
"I just wanna stay like this."
He relaxed feeling her warmth press onto his chest and lap. He put his arms around her and his chin on her head.
"Me too."
She pulled back and kissed his cheek, the two stared into each others eyes. She smiled with a blush.
"Maybe… tonight… for only a few hours. We can sleep together."
His eyes lit up quickly picking her up as he stood fast.
"Where do we go?"
She giggled seeing how eager he was.
"Behind my Mikan trees, just remember to get your blanket and pillow."
He quietly yet helping jumped to the second level and sat her behind her Mikan trees before jumping back down and stretching his hands to his room feeling around for his pillow and blanket. Jumping back up he saw her peeling a Mikan. She saw him and smiled.
"Come on."
He sat next to her, she pulled a piece off before holding it up to him where he took it from her fingers and chewed it.
"Ahhh… it's so good…"
"Oh stop! Don't say it like that!"
She playfully pushed him. After feeding him a few more times she begun to strip.
"Cmon lay down, we gotta wake up early if we don't want the others finding out."
He layed down on his back, pillow under his head, he was a little confused why she had him lay down until she laid on him, using his chest as a pillow as she pulled the blanket over them both. She smirked down at him.
"Uncomfortable?"
"No, your really soft."
"Great."
As he relaxed he really felt everything fade away but them. Her body was soft, smooth, he blinked a few times, he could've sworn she was wearing something. He put his arms around her feeling her bare back. He lifted his head to meet her sleepy eyes.
"I didn't think you notice this quickly."
"Your naked."
"Want to me to lay on your in a wet robe?"
He thought about it but didn't like the idea, he laid his head back down and rubbed his hands up and down her back.
"Goodnight"
She yawned hugging his torso as she closed her eyes. He yawned too, and held her in his arms.
"Good… night…"
I know it's shorter with less going on, but I'm gonna be honest, and I'm not making excuses, but work has been a bit hectic, I haven't had a day off since we've been working mandatory OT, and I'm dead tired. I apologize for the quality of this chapter, and the lateness of it. It might be a while before I continue this, hopefully I drop it or forget about it. But thank you everyone who supported this story, and I'll try to update it when I can.
